Jharkhand Man Held in Dubai Jail for 4 Months Amid Agent Scam
A 23-year-old from Jharkhand has been detained in Dubai for four months following an alleged agent scam and work absenteeism.
A 23-year-old man from Jharkhand’s Palamu district has been languishing in Dubai’s Al Rashidiya jail for over four months, following what his family describes as a devastating scam orchestrated by a travel agent.
Shashi Kumar Paswan, a resident of Dadra village, traveled to the UAE in 2025 to work as a technical helper under a private contract. While his employment was originally scheduled to run until September 2027, a series of complications involving an agent has left him behind bars.
The Wedding Trap and Unauthorized Absence
The crisis reportedly began when Paswan sought to return to India for his younger sister's wedding, which was scheduled to take place between June 26 and July 22, 2026, in Hussainabad. According to his father, Lalan Paswan, the young man followed specific instructions from a travel agent to leave his job without providing the required notice.
This decision resulted in a seven-day unauthorized absence from his workplace. Paswan reportedly surrendered himself to the authorities, under the impression that he would be released within 10 to 15 days. Instead, he has remained in custody for several months.
Conflicting Reports on the Arrest
The exact circumstances surrounding his detention remain unclear, with different reports suggesting different motives for his arrest:
- Workplace Issues: Some reports indicate his detention is a direct result of work absenteeism and improper departure procedures.
- The Telegram Connection: Paswan’s wife, Sumitra, claimed her husband informed her he had been implicated by the agent in a matter involving the messaging platform Telegram.
- Passport Dispute: Other accounts suggest the arrest occurred while Paswan was attempting to retrieve his passport from a fraudulent agent.
Lalan Paswan alleges that the agent defrauded his son, leading to the legal entanglement that has now separated the family.
Family Pleads for Government Intervention
As the months pass without a clear release date or specific confirmation of charges, the family in Jharkhand is desperately seeking help. Lalan Paswan filed a formal application with the Hussainabad police station around late October 2026, requesting that the district administration and the Government of India intervene.
Palamu SP Kapil Choudhary confirmed that the application has been forwarded to higher authorities for review. The family has also attempted to reach out to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand in Ranchi, though they have yet to receive a response.
The family is currently awaiting assistance from the Indian Embassy and Consulate in the UAE to secure consular support and explore potential repatriation for Paswan.